5 Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras of 2023 [Expert Reviews]

Professional film cameras are excellent for shooting all types of video content, but they cost a lot and have a stiff learning curve.

As you’re searching for the Point and Shoot film cameras, you’re definitely looking to shoot professional-grade videos, but in this case, using a more compact and easy-to-use solution.

The advantage of Point & Shoot cameras over something like a compact Mirrorless Camera is just the sheer flexibility of taking the camera out of the pocket or the bag and starting to shoot.

You don’t need to think about attaching lenses or carrying extra stuff to make it work.

The Camera and an external Microphone do the job.

Now, Point and Shoot cameras aren’t traditionally made for filmmaking, so most of them aren’t really going to do anything special for you.

So, you really don’t want to end up with one of those.

However, I did a lot of research and found some cameras that can be used for shooting short films and documentaries.

Best Point and Shoot Film Cameras in 2023

Before we begin, I’ll like to let you know that I have kept the list short, but the options mentioned below were selected after evaluating a large number of Point & Shoot style film cameras depending on multiple factors, and most of them seemed to fail in several segments.

The ones selected are those that held up their own on most of the segments.

1. Best For Professional Grade Films: Sony RX100 VII

Sony’s RX100 VII is perhaps the most capable film camera in the entire Point & Shoot category right now.

Yes, it has a major focus on photography, but under the hood, it’s also the most capable when it comes to video.

Features like HDR video recording, fast autofocus, and more make it quite the perfect package.

Video Recording

There is a 20.1MP Stacked CMOS sensor that can deliver excellent quality 4K video at 30FPS, but for shooting movies, you also get 24FPS as well.

You can even shoot HDR10 video in HLG or RAW video in Slog3 or Slog2.

That means if you’re going to put those color grading skills to use, this is the camera to do it.

Build Quality

There is also a flip-up LCD display (like the one found in vlogging cameras) which can really help if you need to get yourself in the video.

The camera is built like a tank, so durability isn’t a concern at all, and it’s also so compact, it can easily slide into your pocket.

The device weighs around 0.66 lbs which makes it super easy to carry and shoot handheld.

Inputs & Connectivity

Of course, you’ll need a Microphone Jack to attach better audio equipment, and the RX100 VII does provide one.

There is also Micro-HDMI and USB in case you need those. For connectivity, you get Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and NFC.

Battery Life

The NP-BX1 battery unit isn’t as large as the one used on the modern Alpha line-up and it can get you up to 70 minutes of continuous recording time, but in this case, it is true if you record using the LCD or the OLED viewfinder which is unusual.

But, I do wish that the battery lasted a bit longer.

Should You Buy This Camera?

Overall, if you’re looking for the best Point & Shoot camera available out there that gives no compromises on video, what so ever, there is no better option than the Sony RX100 VII.

Yes, it does cost a good chunk of money, but maybe that’s what you have to pay if you want the best of the bunch.

2. Best Value For High-quality Video: Sony ZV-1

Sony recently stepped into a new point & shoot category that is specifically targeted towards video, and the ZV-1 is the first product that emerged from that.

However, it is so much more than what it seems to be.

It costs way less and integrates some of the flagship features found on more expensive offerings.

Video Recording

The ZV-1 also records in up to 4K 30 FPS, and you still get HDR10 video recording in HLG.

This would be the only device that can do that under this price segment. It can also do 1080P slow motion at 120 FPS.

The quality of the is pretty great too, with good dynamic range and well-preserved details.

What’s rather impressive though is the fact that this device can do Portrait Video with Tap-to-focus, so you can blur the background for both people and objects.

It works really well and helps you get that professional look for your movies.

Build Quality

It also has a 3-inch Flip-LCD display in case you need to film yourself.

The build quality is really good and the 0.64 lbs weight makes it perfect for shooting handheld.

It doesn’t feel as well built as the RX100 VII though and it also doesn’t have a viewfinder in case it matters to you.

Inputs & Connectivity

There is indeed a 3.5mm microphone jack alongside a Micro HDMI, and USB.

For connectivity, you do get 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, but weirdly enough, there is no NFC.

That’s still a pretty impressive list for a value-oriented device.

Battery Life

It uses the same NP-BX1 battery and it can last up to 130 minutes before you need to charge it or replace it with another battery.

It’s still not a lot but you can always keep a couple of extra batteries around.

Should You Buy This Camera?

As far as value goes, I think the ZV-1 is actually a better pick for most people than the RX100 VII.

You do get a slightly inferior lens and maybe the dynamic range is also not up to the same level, but it still has most of the flagship features you want to record movies with.

3. Best For Casual Filmmaking: Canon G7 X Mark III

Canon also has something similar to the Sony ZV-1 and although it doesn’t have the same amount of features, it does have most of the good stuff and Canon’s color science in case you don’t want to do color grading in post at all.

Video Recording

The 20.1MP stacked CMOS sensor on the Canon G7 X Mark III is capable of shooting up to 4K 30FPS videos.

The quality is actually pretty good with nice colors and a good dynamic range.

It even has fast autofocusing in case you’re shooting handheld and need a moving subject to be in focus. It does not do HDR video though.

Build Quality

There is a 3-inch LCD display that flips up which is useful, but you can cover it with an external microphone.

Build quality seems to be very similar to the budget mirrorless cameras from the company, so it’s actually pretty good.

The weight is around 0.67 lbs, so it’s pretty close to the ZV-1 in this department.

Inputs & Connectivity

The G7 X features a Micro HDMI, USB Type-C, and Microphone input.

On the connectivity side, it has Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi.

Again there is no NFC and that seems to be the case for most devices at this price point.

Battery Life

It is using an  NB-13L battery which can give you slightly more than an hour of battery life while shooting 4K 30 FPS video.

You can’t really do 24 FPS but it does support 25 FPS and those will actually give slightly better battery life.

Should You Buy This Camera?

You should get the Canon G7X Mark III over the ZV-1 only if you want the Canon color science in your videos and you really want to use the stock footage without any major color grading or color correction in post.

If these sound like something similar to what’s on your mind, then the G7 X makes good sense for you.

4. Best Budget Point and Shoot Camera: Panasonic LUMIX FZ300

If you want a more traditional-style camera with a proper grip and long zoom range, the Panasonic LUMIX FZ300 seems to be the better option for you.

It shoots great quality video and it feels like a proper film camera instead of a regular point & shoot.

Video Recording

The FZ300 features a 12.1MP LMOS sensor that is capable of shooting 4K at 30 FPS and it also supports 24 FPS as well.

The video quality looks really good and the sensor seems to hold up well in low-light.

1080P is available up to 50 FPS, but you don’t get 120 FPS slow-mo if you’re into that.

Build Quality

There is a flip-LCD display in case you need to film yourself and it is plenty bright outdoors.

Now, the build quality definitely is better compared to all of the other devices on the list.

It is way more sturdy and the full-size grip does help. It is a bit heavy though at around 1.5 lbs.

Inputs & Connectivity

The inputs are also better with Micro HDMI, USB, AV, a Remote Jack, and a Microphone Jack.

That’s probably an advantage of having the bigger chassis.

As far as the connectivity goes, you do get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Battery Life

Panasonic is using a 1200mAh battery which gives slightly more than an hour of 4K recording time and that’s kinda expected here.

If you’re in a hot environment though, the battery will drain a lot faster.

Should You Buy This Camera?

In the end, the decision to choose this camera over the other compact film cameras will come down to the convenience of having the full-fledged design and the proper grip.

If you feel more comfortable with those while shooting, get the Panasonic LUMIX FZ300 instead.

5. Best Point & Shoot From Canon: Canon G5 X Mark II

The G5 X Mark II is a nice improvement over the G7 X III.

It has a slightly better lens setup and it produces better quality videos as well.

If you want a Canon camera and you want the best video quality you can get, then the Canon G5 X Mark II will make more sense to you.

Video Recording

Just like its younger sibling, the G5 X II can shoot up to 4K 30 FPS and it also has 120 FPS FHD slow-mo capabilities.

However, it does get slightly more quality and the low-light performance seems to be a bit better too.

Of course, you still don’t get HDR or RAW video which seems to be a Sony thing for now.

Inputs & Connectivity

The LCD display does tilt up and it also has 5 brightness levels with a night-mode option.

The build quality doesn’t feel that much different than the G7 X III, but it is definitely ever so slightly better.

The weight is a bit higher at 0.75 lbs, but it’s still perfectly fine to shoot handheld.

Inputs & Connectivity

It also has a similar input selection including a Micro HDMI, USB Type-C, and a Microphone Jack.

For connectivity, you get Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11 Wi-Fi.

Still, no NFC though which is indeed a disappointment because of the higher price.

Battery Life

The NB-13L battery does perform slightly worse in the G5 X II but, you can still get almost an hour of 4K video recording time.

Canon seems to have lesser battery life than Sony at this point and you should keep extra batteries around.

Should You Buy This Camera?

Overall, if you’re looking for a good point and shoot film camera from Canon, and you do want a bit more than what the G7 X III offer, then the G5 X II is definitely a better choice.

Do keep in mind the shorter battery life, though, as that can be a bummer if you’re shooting for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Shooting films on a Point & Shoot camera isn’t going to be easy but, if you still want to do it, at least we now have some cameras for that.

As you’ve made it to the end, you probably have your personal favorite by now.

But, in case you’re still confused, here’s the simplified version:

• If you want the no-compromise video quality with support for RAW, get the Sony RX100 VII.
• In case you need most of the flagship features but, you can do without RAW, get the Sony ZV-1.
• If you want a full-fledged camera body, go with the Panasonic LUMIX FZ300.

That’s it for this article.

I hope you found the perfect match for yourself, and in case you also check out the DSLR and Mirrorless options, we do have articles exploring their capabilities.

So, maybe try out those next.